Sandy 1st Team: Match Report v Bedford Hatters

Competition

League - Division One

Result

Bedford Hatters 4-0 Sandy 1st Team

Date

Saturday 04 September 2010

Kick Off

2.30pm

Attendance

17

Match Report

This was always going to prove a difficult fixture for Sandy, but it was made more difficult by the fact that they were missing 8 players from their first team squad. Mark Pallister, Paul Booth and Charlie Seward (Holiday), JJ Pekszyc and Adam Hales (working), Dean Hains (Suspended), Craig Baker and Darren Gipson (injured). This meant call ups once again for Brad Smith as well as Adam Jones(AJ), Tom Fullbroook, Tom Smith and Dave Fish played in goal. Chris Jennings did bolster the squad as a substitute although he has a broken hand.

Despite the changes in personnel, Ian Hammett was confident that the team could compete with the Hatters and although it was a backs to the wall performance for 70 minutes the vistors matched the home sides intensity and will de disappointed they didn't get anything from the game.

The home side dominated possession from the off, and Sandy worked hard to keep their shape and shut them out. Sandy's back four excelled for periods during the first half, working well as a unit and snuffing out most of the hatters attacks. Scott Alleyne was proving a constant threat for the home side with his movement and dribbling, but Sandy did contain him until 25 minutes when he produced a fantastic turn in the box, wrong footing Matt Evans and then fired a low shot into the far corner. Other than this the home side had produced very little. They did however hit the bar shortly after and force Dave Fish to make a smart save in the Sandy goal following good work from Alleyne again.

Sandy were almost level with 10 minutes left in the half as Ian Hammett swung a ball into the box, but AJ's looping effort went agonisingly wide, when it looked as if it would drop in. Hammett himself then had a left footed effort blocked 5 yards out, as a Matt Evans long through caused confusion in the Hatters box. Other than this Sandy's goal threat was limited as Hammett struggled to get into the game, and was unable to hold the ball up against the Hatters back line.

Hammett was forced to replace Tom smith five minutes before half time, as this was only his second game in two years and he was knackered. Chris Jennings was forced into action in the middle of the park, but he helped sure things up and Sandy reached the half just one goal down.

Sandy started the second half strongly, again defending everything that the home side could throw at them but failing to create the clear cut chance that could of brought them level in the game. Dave Fish in the Sandy goal was having an outstanding afternoon, as he caught every cross, and made smart saves as and when required. Phil Beall at the heart of the defence was once again outstanding formind a formidable parnership with Matt Evans, and the final scoreline didn't reflect the performance of the team.

Keeping it tight until 20 minutes to go, Sandy looked like they might sneak something, until they switched off for a moment allowing the hatters to add a second. This seemed to take the wind out of the visitors sails and another moment of magic on 80 minutes from Alleyne made it three nil as he turned Shane Pope inside out and curled a wicked left foot shot into the top corner. Mark Jennings gave his now customary penalty away in the last minute, allegedly bringing down Alleyne in the box. Alleyne stepped up to complete his hat trick although Fish did almost save the spot kick.

Hammett could and probably should of reduced the arrear s before that, as Adam Jones slotted the ball through for him, but for some reason he decided to try and sqaure the ball to substitute Tom Fullbrook, rather than finish himself and the chance was wasted.

Although the hatters had most of the possession, Sandy cetainly didn't look out of place on the pitch and competed for long periods with the home side. Hammett felt that if his side played like that against most other teams in this league then they would have more to show for their workrate, he was quoted as saying 'We had a lot of players step up today to help out, and they all performed well. If we can build on the hard work we showed today in our next fixtures then we won't go far wrong' Final score 4 - 0.